Owakudani (Great Boiling Valley) was created as a result of the explosion of the Hakone-yama (Hakone volcano) thousands of years ago. Being a volcanic valley, this is also the reason why Hakone is known for its hotsprings!

We reached Owakudani via the Hakone Ropeway, a funitel/cable car which links Sōunzan which is the terminal in the central area of Hakone, and Tōgendai which is located at an altitude of 741m opposing Sounzan.

While in the ropeway, you can observe the volcanic activities of Hakone-yama and even view pillars of white smoke rising from the surface.

After going off from the ropeway station, we had to walk/hike a little more to reach the sightseeing spots.

Another popular Hakone attraction is the kuro-tamago (black eggs) which are made by boiling raw eggs in Owakudani’s hot spring water, the sulfur in the water turns the eggshells as black as charcoal.

From a local lore, it is believed that eating 1 kurotamago will add 7 years to your lifespan!

There are also other cafes and restaurants in the area – so we also had ice cream! 😅

Aside from viewing of volcanic activities and trying out kurotamago, we also went to Ashinoko (Lake Ashi) which is a scenic lake where you can view sightings of Mt. Fuji if you’re lucky.

Owakudani is not always open to tourists as there are still active volcanic activities, so you must check local announcements first before planning to go.

I highly recommend taking a side trip to Owakudani if you’re near the area. Our trip has been one of a kind since it’s the first time I went over (literally) an active volcano and have eaten a black egg 🤪